{{short description|English footballer (born 2000)}} {{Use British English|date=January 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Mitchell Roberts |image = |image_size = |caption = |fullname = Mitchell Anthony Roberts<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/202021/efl-professional-retain-list---2019-20.pdf |title=Club list of registered players |publisher=English Football League |date=23 June 2020 |page=3 |access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|9|16|df=y}}<ref name=BCFCProfile/> |birth_place = Hagley, England |height = |position = Defender |currentclub = |clubnumber = |youthyears1 = 2011–2020 |youthclubs1 = Birmingham City |years1 = 2020–2023 |clubs1 = Birmingham City |caps1 = 1 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 2021 |clubs2 = → Harrogate Town (loan) |caps2 = 4 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 2022 |clubs3 = → Carlisle United (loan) |caps3 = 6 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2022–2023 |clubs4 = → Oldham Athletic (loan) |caps4 = 9 |goals4 = 0 |years5 = 2023 |clubs5 = → Solihull Moors (loan) |caps5 = 9 |goals5 = 1 |years6 = 2023–2024 |clubs6 = Oxford City |caps6 = 17 |goals6 = 0 |years7 = 2024–2025 |clubs7 = Boston United |caps7 = 7 |goals7 = 0 |years8 = 2025–2026 |clubs8 = Hereford |caps8 = 4 |goals8 = 0 |years9 = 2025–2026 |clubs9 = → Gloucester City (loan) |caps9 = 10 |goals9 = 0 |club-update = 14:12, 9 January 2026 (UTC) }} '''Mitchell Anthony Roberts''' (born 16 September 2000) is an English semi-professional footballer who most recently played as a defender for {{English football updater|Hereford}} club Hereford.
Roberts began his career as a youngster with Birmingham City. He made his Football League debut while on loan to Harrogate Town of League Two in 2021, and spent the second half of the 2021–22 season with another League Two club, Carlisle United. He moved on loan to National League team Oldham Athletic for the first half of the 2022–23 season, and spent the second half with divisional rivals Solihull Moors. He was released by Birmingham in 2023, joined Oxford City a couple of months into the new season, and signed for his fourth National League club, Boston United, in 2024.
==Early and personal life== Roberts was born in Hagley, Worcestershire, where he attended Haybridge High School. He was a childhood fan of West Bromwich Albion.<ref name=BCFCProfile>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/birmingham-city-u23/players/mitchell-roberts/ |title=Mitchell Roberts |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |access-date=10 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715141105/https://www.bcfc.com/birmingham-city-u23/players/mitchell-roberts/ |archive-date=15 July 2021}}</ref>
==Career== ===Early career=== Roberts joined Birmingham City's Academy as a 10-year-old in 2011, having previously played Sunday League football,<ref name=BCFCProfile/><ref name=SignsPro>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/mitch-roberts-signs-professional-deal-with-blues |title=Mitch Roberts signs professional deal with Blues |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=7 June 2019 |access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref> and took up a two-year scholarship in July 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2017.ashx |title=List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2017 and 31/07/2017 |publisher=The Football Association |page=58 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629115712/http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2017.ashx |archive-date=29 June 2019}}</ref> His first year was interrupted by a knee injury,<ref name=CelticLink/> but he was able to move into the development squad in his second.<ref name=SignsPro/> He was offered a two-year professional contract in March 2019,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/deals-for-blues-scholars |title=Deals for Blues scholars |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=20 March 2019 |access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref> and signed it in June.<ref name=SignsPro/>
Rumours in the 2019 summer transfer window linked Roberts with a move to then Premier League champions Manchester City and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, and it was reported that Birmingham were willing to sell "at the right price".<ref name=CelticLink>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/celtic-transfer-latest-billel-omrani-19028961 |title=Celtic transfer latest as Billel Omrani is 'set to sign' for £3m as club eye rising Birmingham City star |first=Darren |last=Cooney |newspaper=Daily Record |location=Glasgow |date=29 August 2019 |access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref> He did not leave, played 18 times for Birmingham's under-23 team during the abbreviated 2019–20 season, and signed a two-year professional contract in July 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/young-blues-pair-sign-new-contracts |title=Young Blues pair sign new contracts |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=28 July 2020 |access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref>
He was used in pre-season friendlies ahead of the 2020–21 season,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-birmingham-city-rodgers-karanka-18831039 |title=Birmingham City 0 Leicester City 2: Foxes see off Aitor Karanka's side |first=Joseph |last=Chapman |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=26 August 2020 |access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref> but was not listed among those allocated a squad number.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/mens-squad-numbers-revealed |title=Men's squad numbers revealed |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=4 September 2020 |access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref>
===Harrogate Town loan=== Roberts joined League Two newcomers Harrogate Town on 8 January 2021 on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/mitchell-roberts-buzzing-join-harrogate-town-loan-birmingham-city-3089804 |title=Mitchell Roberts 'buzzing' to join Harrogate Town on loan from Birmingham City |first=Rhys |last=Howell |newspaper=Harrogate Advertiser |date=8 January 2021 |access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref> He made his club and Football League debut the next day, starting at left back in a 2–1 defeat away to Cambridge United.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55512386 |title=Cambridge United 2–1 Harrogate |website=BBC Sport |date=9 January 2021 |access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref> He played for 54 minutes, during which he received a yellow card for a bad tackle, before being replaced by Jay Williams because of a hamstring injury.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/cambridge-united-2-harrogate-town-1-advertiser-player-ratings-3091067 |title=Cambridge United 2 Harrogate Town 1: Advertiser player ratings |first=Rhys |last=Howell |newspaper=Harrogate Advertiser |date=10 January 2021 |access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref> He received treatment at Birmingham before returning to Harrogate towards the end of March,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/josh-andrews-and-mitch-roberts-back-but-harrogate-town-will-not-rush-them-onto-the-pitch-3180113 |title=Josh Andrews and Mitch Roberts back but Harrogate Town will not rush them onto the pitch |first=Stuart |last=Rayner |newspaper=Yorkshire Post |date=26 March 2021 |access-date=21 April 2021}}</ref> and next appeared in the first team on 20 April, playing the whole of a 3–0 home defeat. He played twice more, finishing his loan spell with four appearances.<ref name=sb2021/>
===Return to Birmingham=== Roberts made his first-team debut for Birmingham in the EFL Cup second-round match at home to Fulham. Starting in a three-man defence alongside the experienced George Friend and fellow debutant Dion Sanderson, he played the whole of the 2–0 defeat.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58239544 |title=EFL Cup: Birmingham City 0–2 Fulham |website=BBC Sport |date=24 August 2021 |access-date=24 August 2021}}</ref> Roberts made his first Championship appearance on 7 November 2021 when, with five senior defenders unavailable through injury, he started on the left of a back three in a 2–1 defeat at home to Reading.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-lee-bowyer-injuries-22093117 |title='Different animal' – Lee Bowyer promises Birmingham City investigation |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=7 November 2021 |access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref>
===Carlisle United loan=== Having made no further appearances for Birmingham, Roberts signed on loan for League Two club Carlisle United on 31 January 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60201713 |title=Birmingham City: Carlisle sign Mitchell Roberts as Ivan Sanchez joins Real Valladolid |website=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2022 |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> He made his debut on 12 February, starting in a back three in a 2–2 draw away to Colchester United described by the ''News and Star'' as a "grim struggle".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/19920354.colchester-united-2-2-carlisle-united-sho-silva-rescues-late-point-blues/ |title=Colchester United 2–2 Carlisle United: Sho-Silva rescues late point for Blues |first=Jon |last=Colman |newspaper=News and Star |location=Carlisle |date=12 February 2022 |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> He finished the season with six appearances.<ref name=sb2122/>
===Oldham Athletic loan=== Roberts signed for National League club Oldham Athletic on 25 August 2022, on loan until 1 January 2023.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2022/august/25082022-mitchell-roberts/ |title=Sheridan signs defender Roberts |publisher=Oldham Athletic A.F.C. |date=25 August 2022 |access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref> He made his debut the next day in the starting eleven for the match at home to Aldershot, which Oldham won with a stoppage-time goal. Manager John Sheridan described him as "excellent, very elegant, technically very good, comfortable on the ball."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/sport/20783658.oldham-athletic-celebrate-late-time-win-aldershot-town/ |title=Oldham Athletic celebrate late win over Aldershot Town |first=Suzanne |last=Geldard |newspaper=The Oldham Times |date=26 August 2022 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref> He was a regular in the starting eleven<ref name=Soccerway/> until a knee injury sustained in an FA Cup tie against Chester in mid-October kept him out for the rest of the loan spell.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/sport/23052121.clarke-roberts-added-oldhams-injury-list/ |title=Clarke and Roberts are added to Oldham's injury list |first=Suzanne |last=Geldard |newspaper=The Oldham Times |date=15 October 2022 |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/blues-mitchell-roberts-back-from-loan |title=Blues' Mitchell Roberts back from loan |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=8 January 2023 |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>
===Solihull Moors loan=== Roberts joined another National League club, Solihull Moors, on 30 January 2023 on loan until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-mitch-roberts-loan-26111664 |title=Confirmed: Birmingham City sanction loan deal for defender |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=30 January 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk/news/posts/mitchell-roberts-signs-on-loan/ |title=Mitchell Roberts signs on loan |publisher=Solihull Moors F.C. |date=30 January 2023 |access-date=30 January 2023}}</ref> He scored away to Altrincham in February, catching the goalkeeper off his line from {{convert|40|yards|m}}, but the hosts won the match 4–1.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://solihullobserver.co.uk/sport/football-ardley-apologises-to-supporters-after-moors-thrashed-at-altrincham/ |title=Football – Ardley apologises to supporters after Moors thrashed at Altrincham |first=Aaron |last=Sutcliffe |newspaper=Solihull Observer |date=27 February 2023 |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref> Roberts started all five of Moors' unbeaten matches in March, but made only four other appearances for the club.<ref name=Soccerway/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/loan-report-march-2023 |title=Loan report: March 2023 |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=11 April 2023 |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref>
Roberts was one of 13 professionals released by Birmingham at the end of the 2022–23 season.<ref name=Releases23>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/retained-and-released-list-2023 |title=Blues Men's: Retained and released list |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=22 May 2023 |access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref>
===Non-league=== Roberts joined National League club Oxford City in October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordcityfc.co.uk/mitchell-roberts-joins-oxford-city |title=Mitchell Roberts joins Oxford City |publisher=Oxford City F.C. |date=7 October 2023 |access-date=7 October 2023}}</ref> He had made 20 appearances in all competitions by the end of the season.<ref name=Soccerway />
In July 2024, Roberts joined Boston United, newly promoted to the National League.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/sport/football/boston-united-notes-defender-signs-national-league-fixtures-released-and-a-friendly-defeat-4702461 |title=Boston United notes: Defender signs, National League fixtures released and a friendly defeat |website=Lincolnshire World |date=15 July 2024 |access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref> He was released at the end of the season after eight appearances in all competitions.<ref>{{Cite news |title=National League news - May 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cg5q575e2d2o#19-May |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250610112651/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cg5q575e2d2o#19-May |archive-date=10 June 2025 |access-date=10 June 2025 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>
On 10 June 2025, Roberts joined National League North club Hereford.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brick |first=Toby |date=10 June 2025 |title=The Bulls Add Mitchell Roberts |url=https://herefordfc.co.uk/2025/06/the-bulls-add-mitchell-roberts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250610112845/https://herefordfc.co.uk/2025/06/the-bulls-add-mitchell-roberts/ |archive-date=10 June 2025 |access-date=10 June 2025 |website=Hereford FC |language=en-GB}}</ref> On 17 October, he joined Southern League Premier Division South club Gloucester City on a one-month loan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NEWS: Mitch Roberts joins Gloucester City on Loan |url=https://herefordfc.co.uk/2025/10/news-mitch-roberts-joins-gloucester-city-on-loan/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=herefordfc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=noahwoodland |date=2025-10-17 |title=Player News {{!}} City sign defender Mitchell Roberts on loan |url=https://www.gloucestercityafc.com/post/city-sign-defender-mitchell-roberts-on-loan |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Gloucester City AFC |language=en}}</ref> He was released by the club at the end of the 2025–26 season.<ref>{{Cite news |title=NEWS {{!}} Retained and Released List Revealed |last=Davies |first=Gregg |date=5 May 2026 |url=https://herefordfc.co.uk/2026/05/news-retained-and-released-list-revealed/ |access-date=5 May 2026 |work=Hereford F.C.}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 3 January 2026}}
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Birmingham City |2020–21<ref name=sb2021/> |Championship |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2021–22<ref name=sb2122/> |Championship |1||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0 |- |2022–23<ref name=sb2223>{{soccerbase season|137256|2022|access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref> |Championship||0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !1||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0 |- |Harrogate Town (loan) |2020–21<ref name=sb2021>{{soccerbase season|137256|2020|access-date=25 May 2021}}</ref> |League Two |4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4||0 |- |Carlisle United (loan) |2021–22<ref name=sb2122>{{soccerbase season|137256|2021|access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref> |League Two |6||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||6||0 |- |Oldham Athletic (loan) |2022–23<ref name=Soccerway/> |National League |9||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||10||0 |- |Solihull Moors (loan) |2022–23<ref name=Soccerway /> |National League |9||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||9||1 |- |Oxford City |2023–24<ref name=Soccerway /> |National League |17||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|name=fat|Appearance in FA Trophy}}||0||20||0 |- |Boston United |2024–25<ref name=Soccerway>{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/mitchell-roberts/686887/ |title=M. Roberts |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref> |National League |7||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|name=fat}}||0||8||0 |- |Hereford |2025–26<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=137256|season=2025|access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref> |National League North |4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||4||0 |- |Gloucester City (loan) |2025–26<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gloucester City – Appearances – Mitchell Roberts |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/gloucester-city/appearances/mitchell-roberts/1004108 |access-date=9 January 2026 |website=Football Web Pages}}</ref> |SL Premier Division South |10||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||10||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !67||1||3||0||1||0||2||0||73||1 |} {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Mitchell}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:People from Bromsgrove District Category:Footballers from Worcestershire Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Birmingham City F.C. players Category:Harrogate Town A.F.C. players Category:Carlisle United F.C. players Category:Oldham Athletic A.F.C. players Category:Solihull Moors F.C. players Category:Oxford City F.C. players Category:Boston United F.C. players Category:Hereford F.C. players Category:Gloucester City A.F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:21st-century English sportsmen